AMD Phenom II X4 975 BE vs Intel Core i7-870

Comparative analysis of AMD Phenom II X4 975 BE and Intel Core i7-870 processors for all known characteristics in the following categories: Essentials, Performance, Memory, Compatibility, Peripherals, Security & Reliability, Advanced Technologies, Virtualization. Benchmark processor performance analysis: PassMark - Single thread mark, PassMark - CPU mark, Geekbench 4 - Single Core, Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core, CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s), CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s), 3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score, CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s), CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s), CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s).

AMD Phenom II X4 975 BE

Intel Core i7-870

Differences

Reasons to consider the AMD Phenom II X4 975 BE

CPU is newer: launch date 1 year(s) 4 month(s) later
Processor is unlocked, an unlocked multiplier allows for easier overclocking
2x more L1 cache, more data can be stored in the L1 cache for quick access later
2x more L2 cache, more data can be stored in the L2 cache for quick access later
2.7x better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s): 2.787 vs 1.029

Specifications (specs)
Launch date	January 2011 vs September 2009
Unlocked	Unlocked vs Locked
L1 cache	512 KB vs 64 KB (per core)
L2 cache	2 MB vs 256 KB (per core)
Benchmarks
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)	2.787 vs 1.029

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i7-870

4 more threads: 8 vs 4
Around 17% higher maximum core temperature: 72.7°C vs 62°C
Around 33% more L3 cache; more data can be stored in the L3 cache for quick access later
Around 32% lower typical power consumption: 95 Watt vs 125 Watt
Around 3% better performance in PassMark - Single thread mark: 1385 vs 1344
Around 21% better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 3160 vs 2610
Around 15% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Single Core: 547 vs 477
Around 28% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core: 2032 vs 1584
4.1x better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s): 53.478 vs 13.167

Specifications (specs)
Number of threads	8 vs 4
Maximum core temperature	72.7°C vs 62°C
L3 cache	8192 KB (shared) vs 6 MB
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	95 Watt vs 125 Watt
Benchmarks
PassMark - Single thread mark	1385 vs 1344
PassMark - CPU mark	3160 vs 2610
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	547 vs 477
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	2032 vs 1584
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)	53.478 vs 13.167

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: AMD Phenom II X4 975 BE
CPU 2: Intel Core i7-870

PassMark - Single thread mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

1344

1385

PassMark - CPU mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

2610

3160

Geekbench 4 - Single Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

477

547

Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

1584

2032

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

2.787

1.029

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

13.167

53.478

Name	AMD Phenom II X4 975 BE	Intel Core i7-870
PassMark - Single thread mark	1344	1385
PassMark - CPU mark	2610	3160
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	477	547
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	1584	2032
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)	2.787	1.029
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)	13.167	53.478
3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score		2453
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)		0.342
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)		1.541
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)		4.602

Compare specifications (specs)

	AMD Phenom II X4 975 BE	Intel Core i7-870
Essentials
Architecture codename	Deneb	Lynnfield
Family	AMD Phenom
Launch date	January 2011	September 2009
OPN PIB	HDZ975FBGMBOX
OPN Tray	HDZ975FBK4DGM
Place in performance rating	2656	2680
Series	AMD Phenom II X4 Black	Legacy Intel® Core™ Processors
Vertical segment	Desktop	Desktop
Launch price (MSRP)		$197
Price now		$98.99
Processor Number		i7-870
Status		Discontinued
Value for money (0-100)		15.90
Performance
64 bit support
Base frequency	3.6 GHz	2.93 GHz
Die size	258 mm	296 mm2
L1 cache	512 KB	64 KB (per core)
L2 cache	2 MB	256 KB (per core)
L3 cache	6 MB	8192 KB (shared)
Manufacturing process technology	45 nm SOI	45 nm
Maximum core temperature	62°C	72.7°C
Maximum frequency	3.6 GHz	3.60 GHz
Number of cores	4	4
Number of threads	4	8
Transistor count	758 million	774 million
Unlocked
Bus Speed		2.5 GT/s DMI
VID voltage range		0.6500V-1.4000V
Memory
Supported memory types	DDR3	DDR3 1066/1333
Max memory channels		2
Maximum memory bandwidth		21 GB/s
Maximum memory size		16 GB
Compatibility
Max number of CPUs in a configuration	1	1
Sockets supported	AM3	LGA1156
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	125 Watt	95 Watt
Low Halogen Options Available
Package Size		37.5mm x 37.5mm
Peripherals
Max number of PCIe lanes		16
PCI Express revision		2.0
PCIe configurations		1x16, 2x8
Security & Reliability
Execute Disable Bit (EDB)
Intel® Trusted Execution technology (TXT)
Advanced Technologies
Enhanced Intel SpeedStep® technology
Idle States
Instruction set extensions		Intel® SSE4.2
Intel 64
Intel® AES New Instructions
Intel® Demand Based Switching
Intel® Hyper-Threading technology
Intel® Turbo Boost technology
Intel® vPro™ Platform Eligibility
Physical Address Extensions (PAE)		36-bit
Thermal Monitoring
Virtualization
Intel® Virtualization Technology (VT-x)
Intel® Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-d)
Intel® VT-x with Extended Page Tables (EPT)